Star Wars: Ahsoka serves as the continuation of Star Wars Rebels, bringing some of the animated series’ characters to live-action. However, among the familiar faces it has featured, like Ahsoka Tano, Sabine Wren, Hera Syndulla, and Ezra Bridger, there is one significant character missing: Kanan Jarrus. So, to address his nonappearance, Ezra actor Eman Esfandi discusses why Kanan’s absence in Ahsoka is only fitting.
Many had hoped to see Kanan in Ahsoka, even in flashbacks, but it never happened. The only glimpse fans had of Ezra’s Jedi Master was what looked like a photo of him on the dashboard of Hera’s VCX-100 light freighter called Ghost. So, during Esfandi's appearance at the Fan Expo Philadelphia Ahsoka panel, as hosted by ScreenRant and shared by TikTok user Liz Vera, the actor admitted that he couldn’t see Kanan returning to the Disney+ series.
“I can’t really imagine a way would have fit into the season in particular,” he said. “I think the way Kanan’s story ended was so perfect and beautiful.”
Esfandi then talked about how Kanan died, sacrificing himself to save Hera and The Ghost crew. So, with a great closure for the Jedi Knight’s story, resulting in the most impactful and devastating death in Star Wars, he believed it was hard to destroy an ending like that by featuring his return in Ahsoka.
Can Kanan Jarrus still return to Star Wars: Ahsoka?
Kanan survived Order 66 at the end of the Clone Wars and formed the Spectress with Hera and her droid, Chopper. They then grew its members by recruiting Zeb Orellios, Sabine, and Ezra, the latter of whom Kanan decided to train as a Jedi. After discovering new aspects of the Force, thanks to his training with Ezra, Kanan played a key role in the Rebellion’s formation. Though his life ended during the Liberation of Lothal, his story could have continued even after Ahsoka convinced Ezra not to save him using time travel.
Kanan could have returned to Ahsoka after the titular character made her way to Lothal, the home of the Force-connected Loth-wolves. During the Liberation of Lothal, Kanan interacted with these creatures who helped guide him through the Force, especially during his final mission to save Hera and his newfound family from the Empire. However, that didn’t happen.
It’s also good to note that in an interview with The Big Thing podcast in 2023, Kanan voice actor Freddie Prinze Jr. shot down the claims that he would reprise his role in Ahsoka. At the time, he said he was already done with his character after voicing Kanan in Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 1 and Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker.
“No Ahsoka. I’m done with Kanan,” he said. “I’m too old for that stuff.”
That said, it looks like fans won’t see Kanan return to Ahsoka anytime soon. But knowing this is Star Wars, there may still be hope. Ahsoka has been renewed for a second season, though no release date has been announced yet.
